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The Style GuideTue, 03 Mar 2015 16:59:40 +0000en-UShourly1Salute the Runway: 15 Military Servicewomen Will Open NYFWhttp://www.ruelala.com/blog/2014/08/19/salute-the-runway/
http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2014/08/19/salute-the-runway/#commentsTue, 19 Aug 2014 22:00:12 +0000http://www.ruelala.com/blog/?p=77906Mark your calendars – this is one opening act you won’t want to miss. Fifteen current and former military servicewomen will open New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center on September 3.

Sponsored by Little Black Dress Wines and Fatigues to Fabulous, the “Salute the Runway” show stems from a military-base program to raise awareness of the challenges servicewomen face as they transition back to civilian life, one of which is their wardrobe.

Members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard will walk the runway, representing ranks from sergeant to lieutenant commander. Each of the 15 participants will model variations of the iconic LBD from design houses including DKNY, Calvin Klein, Carmen Marc Valvo, and Mara Hoffman. Off the catwalk, historic uniforms dating back to World War I will also be on display from the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation in Washington – quite the contrast to those modern numbers in the show.

Leslie Nicole Smith, a retired Army captain and campaign spokeswoman, is one of the veterans strutting in New York. “This campaign is a wonderful opportunity to support female veterans throughout the country,” Leslie told WWD. “We are able to raise awareness of the issues surrounding women veteran reintegration, acknowledge their heroic service, and highlight the versatility of the little black dress and how this wardrobe staple can help women veterans transition from military service.”

The participating designers are just as excited for New York Fashion Week as the women in the show. “Some of these women have been in the service for 20 years and have spent their entire careers there, and when they leave the service they have to be reintroduced to a different society,” said Carmen Marc Valvo. “We can empower them in a different way and help them rediscover who they were. They’re used to fatigues and combat boots and not carrying lipstick, wearing a dress and killer heels. Their stories are so compelling and they’ve sacrificed so much for us. They’re the unsung heroes to a certain extent.”

New York Fashion Week is always a big deal. But this season’s feel-good twist allows for some reflection before the style frenzy ensues. Now that’s a cause I can get behind.

By Brianna Lapolla, Staff Writer

What do you think of military servicewomen walking the runway? Tweet us at @ruelala.

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]]>http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2014/08/19/salute-the-runway/feed/0Watch & Learn: The Theory Behind Chanel’s Color Palettehttp://www.ruelala.com/blog/2014/05/30/watch-learn-chanel-color-theory/
http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2014/05/30/watch-learn-chanel-color-theory/#commentsFri, 30 May 2014 20:00:32 +0000http://www.ruelala.com/blog/?p=74083This past fall, Chanel launched a series of short films recounting the history of its now-iconic brand. And last week, the online storyboard (aptly named Inside Chanel) released its 11th chapter. Giving viewers an inside look at the label’s key colors and what they meant to the brand’s visionary, Coco Chanel, it’s the most interesting installment to date. Don’t believe me? Check out the clip below.

For the fashion set, this short film is pretty eye-opening. It proves that although black and white are signature Chanel colors, Coco was also loyal to beige, gold, and red in her designs.

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]]>http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2014/05/30/watch-learn-chanel-color-theory/feed/0Teamwork: Ann Taylor & Kate Hudson Collaborate to Revamp the LBDhttp://www.ruelala.com/blog/2014/03/20/kate-hudson-lbd/
http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2014/03/20/kate-hudson-lbd/#commentsThu, 20 Mar 2014 13:00:46 +0000http://www.ruelala.com/blog/?p=70021We all know (and love) Kate Hudson. When she’s not teaching us How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, she’s busy collaborating with Ann Taylor. Not only is she the face of the beloved brand, but on occasion, she designs for it as well. Just last summer she created an all-white collection for the label, and this April she’ll be debuting a new capsule collection of five LBDs. And with names like The Romantic, The Late Nighter, and Best Actress, it seems there’s a style for every event on the social calendar. Can’t wait until these black beauties hit stores? Preview the collection here, and then start RSVPing to those invites (I know I will).

After beginning her career as a model for the likes of Chanel and Calvin Klein, the 6’3" style icon launched her eponymous label in 2006. Adept at creating flattering, feminine silhouettes, her designs were beloved by the likes of Angelina Jolie and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Her death is a true tragedy for the fashion world. May her legacy continue to live on.

]]>http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2014/03/17/rue-remembers-lwren-scott/feed/0Katy Perry Channels Wednesday Addams at Her Tokyo Album Launchhttp://www.ruelala.com/blog/2013/11/09/katy-perry-prism-launch-lbd/
http://www.ruelala.com/blog/2013/11/09/katy-perry-prism-launch-lbd/#commentsSat, 09 Nov 2013 18:00:28 +0000http://www.ruelala.com/blog/?p=60112Here at Rue, we have LBDs on the brain. (Our 10 Ways to Wear: The Little Black Dress Boutique opened today. Just saying.) So when we spotted the queen of candy-colored ensembles embracing her dark side, we just had to share.

Katy Perry pulled out a short, sparkly number with a schoolgirl twist for the Tokyo debut of her new album, Prism. Refinery29 is calling it an “all-smiles version of our favorite morbid preteen, Wednesday Addams.”

Now, I’ve never been one to channel Wednesday Addams’s or Katy Perry’s style, but this is one look I may just have to swipe.

This time of year, our calendar is rife with summer weddings: vineyard tie-the-knots, crown-of-roses-in-your-hair garden affairs, and jazzy cultured “I do’s” at the MET. We’re flirting with LWDs for non-weddings, and we love the thrill of a new floral or stripe, but we’ll also find lots of ways to wear the always faithful little black dress. Here, our stylist Evan proposes his truisms for party dress styling:

1. We believe that wooden wedges were made for vineyard weddings (especially of the hot-to-trot python variety). Ditch any worry about sinking in the ground. Arm yourself with these clear bangles and raise your glass to the happy couple.

2. We believe that strands of pearls were made for museum weddings (especially with the interplay of large and small). Slip into a pair of leggy black heels and dance circles around paintings by Picasso and Matisse.

3. We believe that bows were made for garden weddings (especially when they’re sprinkled with polka dots). Cinch a day-glo orange belt around the waist, lace up these black-and-white oxfords, and cha-cha real smooth among the daisies and daffodils.

As always, it’s best to consult the invite for the dress code de rigeur.

ELLE’S Sarah Schussheim considers the little black dress the most important go-to piece in a woman’s wardrobe. With holiday party season inching dangerously closer, we’re thrilled to get her insider advice on the style staple she calls “sexy, empowering, and terrifically versatile all at the same time.”

Rue La La: Do you have a signature style you always find yourself gravitating towards?Sarah: My go-to silhouettes are a black longsleeve wrap dress and a structured shift dress.

Rue La La: How do you judge if a dress is a score?Sarah: A good rule of thumb is versatility – the perfect LBD can transition from casual to elegant and back again with a few little tweaks.

Rue La La: What are your favorite outfit add-ons to enhance an LBD?Sarah: When in doubt, go for a great blazer or leather jacket, and a pair of bright heels for a pop of color.